Wonders of the West
Big skies and rugged scenery have given rise to a rich Western heritage in southeast Montana, and a few museums in Billings give visitors a look into that element of the city’s ethos.
A great starting point for groups is the Yellowstone County Museum, which is housed in a historic log cabin and has numerous exhibits related to the area’s Western roots, railroad history and local art.
“If you go downstairs, there is an old horse-drawn buggy,” Tyson said. “You see a number of old saddles that are intricately carved and detailed. There’s a display on the Native American culture, which is very important to your region. You see tepees, moccasins and hand-beaded leatherwork.”
That story continues at the Western Heritage Center, where Montana’s Western culture is examined from both a historical and a contemporary perspective.
“There is a man there named Kevin Kooistra who is our community historian,” Tyson said. “He can tell you about everything from the brothels of the railroad days to the sandstone cliffs that surround us. The exhibits you see in there really take a look at what Montana is all about and what the West is today.”
During the summer, Kooistra also hosts a downtown walking tour called Hoof-It With a Historian, which features information about historic buildings around town and the landscape surrounding the city.
Finally, art lovers will want to stop at the Yellowstone Art Museum.
“It’s one of the quintessential art museums of the West,” Tyson said. “They have everything from nationally known Western artists to some great artists in our community, as well as top exhibitions from places like New York and Los Angeles.”
Dining and Drinking
Like many cities in the United States, Billings has undergone an impressive downtown revitalization over the last 20 years, and Historic Montana Avenue is now a visitor highlight. This walkable area is home to many of the city’s best restaurants, as well as its up-and-coming brewery district.
There are now seven breweries in Billings, along with two distilleries and a cidery, and groups can tour, taste and even enjoy meals at several of them.
“One of the best places to start is Trailhead Spirits,” Tyson said. “It’s in an old train depot that has been completely renovated. The distiller takes wheat and rye from his family farm in northeastern Montana and uses it to distill chocolate whiskey, rye whiskey, vodka and gin. The distiller is very social and will take you on a tour, and you can have a couple of drinks.”
Across the street, Uberbrew is a celebrated beer producer that has been winning national brewery awards. There are some smaller breweries in the neighborhood as well, some of which serve food along with beer tastings.
Groups can plan their meals around a stop at the Cider House, which uses apples grown locally and throughout the region to create cider products.
“They have an amazing chef who pairs their ciders with different tapas,” Tyson said. “They are located in an old historic warehouse, and they just opened a few months ago. It’s very popular.”
Tyson also suggested that groups stop in for a bite at the Burger Dive, a small restaurant downtown that has been featured on Food Network and is beloved by locals.
“It’s a greasy spoon in the greatest sense,” she said. “It is small and has limited hours, but it’s well worth the wait. If you’re here, you don’t want to miss it.”
For more information contact Visit Billings at 406-245-4111 or go to www.visitbillings.com.
